University of Louisville
Femininity and Levels of Depression in Adolescents
Institution
University of Louisville
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Nancy Potter
Abstract
Upon investigating the rates of depression in both adolescents and adults, I found that “Major Depressive Disorder (Single or Recurrent) is twice as common in adolescent and adult females as in adolescent and adult males”. Various philosophers of psychiatry and psychology have theorized the reasons for the overrepresentation of depression in females. To examine the possibility of a correlation between depression and femininity, I will study high school students eighteen and nineteen years of age. They will complete two surveys, one being the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, and the other being the Beck Depression Inventory. The results of these surveys will provide numerical values for masculinity/femininity/androgyny and depressive symptoms. A two sample t-test will be used to compare the data. The discussion will include a philosophical perspective on the reasons for any correlations found.
Femininity and Levels of Depression in Adolescents
Upon investigating the rates of depression in both adolescents and adults, I found that “Major Depressive Disorder (Single or Recurrent) is twice as common in adolescent and adult females as in adolescent and adult males”. Various philosophers of psychiatry and psychology have theorized the reasons for the overrepresentation of depression in females. To examine the possibility of a correlation between depression and femininity, I will study high school students eighteen and nineteen years of age. They will complete two surveys, one being the Bem Sex-Role Inventory, and the other being the Beck Depression Inventory. The results of these surveys will provide numerical values for masculinity/femininity/androgyny and depressive symptoms. A two sample t-test will be used to compare the data. The discussion will include a philosophical perspective on the reasons for any correlations found.